Do you think Borat is more about exposing the not-so-sophisticated side of the US at the grassroot level ?

Question

I think the character of Borat is more to do with exposing the not-so-sophisticated side of the american people than making fun of Kazakhstan . what do you think ?

Answer 1

I think it exposes that most americans are jerks. (Yes, calm down, I am an American myself)

Answer 2

The answer to this question is at once obvious yet also subtle, for at first one may merely reply in the affirmative, but on closer inspection the question reveals hidden complexities.

The character of Borat is a foil to tear away the shell of public formality, deference and respect that we all wear in our dealing with one another. By adopting the persona of the fool and putting provocative statements to his 'victim' the Borat character asks the questions that no interviewer would dare to ask, and Borat gets responses as the respondents are caught off guard by the apparent stupidity of the Borat character.

However the complexity of answering the question comes from the 'not-so-sophisticated side' phrase. On closer scrutiny the character of the United States of America may be regarded as a third world country with wealth, that is to say that the nature of relationships and the society as a whole shares many common values with those of un-developed and developing countries elsewhere in the world such as Kazakhstan. Therefore the use of the Borat character in the USA is less humorous than the UK or elsewhere in Europe because the added irony of a character from the third world exposing the pomposity of the first world is lost when set in the context of America.

Answer 3

I think Sascha Baron Cohen has done this for one simple reason - it's easy.

Look at this comedy history - first you've got Ali G. Ali G's 1ast series largely consisted of interviews with stuffy English types where he made them look stupid by make references to drugs and that kind of thing that they obviously weren't aware of. They didn't know he was a fictional character, so he was able to get away with it.

Ok, then in series two... what can you do now? Take it to America, where they don't know who Ali G is, and don't realise he's a character.

So then you've got Borat. Everyone in the UK knows that Borat is a Cohen's creation from when he was introduced into the Ali G show. But they don't know that in America. Hence you have the logical conclusion that Borat should go to the USA to lampoon them.

That's Cohen's comic style. I'm not saying whether it's good or not; it may turn out to be hilarious, though the fact that the Daily Mirror says it is "The funniest film you will ever ever see" makes me think otherwise.

I'm not entirely convinced that worthwhile comedy comes from taking advantage of the fact that people don't know who you are.

Answer 4

Borat is highlighting comparisons between how women in his own country are treated with say women in the west to state the obvious.
Women are far happier being regarded as the weaker sex
both mentally and physically:as they know they are the weaker sex

Women should stay at home have babies and look after there men: as they know that this is there true function which evolution over tens of thousands of years has prepared them for.
Unfortunately a lot of misguided women fall into the trap and do not appreciate there role in maintaining the species and the male dominance in that species
.
Ever since Emily Pankhurst's self delusion and the accompanying brain washing exercise that the female was equal to the male of the species, the female has been burdened with the impossible task of trying to match the male

This situation has overstretched women for the past 90 years or so and this pressure biologically can be seen through the manifestation of some women growing facial hair and testicles.

Women should be both allowed to be sugar and spice and all things nice and free from the damaging effects of competing with the male

Answer 5

I feel that Borat has pinpointed the prejudices we all more or less have about people from places that we know nothing about and rolled them all into one person. What he is doing is taking the piss with the Western World and our belief that we are superior and all others are idiots who grow chicken feed in their kitchens and eat children for breakfast.
He has probably chosen Khazakstan because few people even know where it is, let alone know anything about the country and its people.
I think Borat has chosen to target the 'not-so-sophisticated side of the american people' is because they are gullible, as the prejudices are rife amongst this group. I think Borat wants to make us take a good look at ourselves and our own feelings of superiority. Isn't it just scary that so many people believed that he is real??????

Answer 6

Kazakhstan has nothing to do with it. It could have been any developing country perceived as backwards by westerners, which gives an opportunity for an outrageous accent.

It's beautiful, it makes me cringe sometimes, but by being a completely useless idiot with no social graces, he gets his "victims" to expose their real prejudices, hatred, racism, and thoughts on the World.

By being a total idiot people drop their guard.

Personally I don't like his stuff much but as social commentary it is invaluable work, if you want to know what people are really thinking behind all those first impressions and layers of make-up and politically correct teethy smiles, then Borat shows them for what they really are.

I think his work will be better judged by future generations looking back on the oil wars and their effects and asking themselves why more was not done to stop the lunacy.

Answer 7

Sacha B. Cohen is an English guy who likes to take cultural stereotypes and over-exaggerate them. First with 'Ali G' and now with 'Borat'. He's also (supposedly) Jewish and makes fun of Jewish people too.

Cohen wants money. America is bigger than the UK and he's done that whole bit over here already and made a little cash. The guy wants millions. In order for British 'stars' to make (serious) money in the movie game, you have to bring in the US. Trust me, if it was 'Borat goes to the UK' the guy would be broke.

And if you think the Americans get it bad, check out Ali G - Cohen's take on 'urban culture in the UK' also known as black people. Yes, he certainly crosses the line. But he's funny. Right?

Answer 8

Sacha Cohen is a funny, non-politically correct guy (thanks God!). I haven't seen the movie yet but I am going to see it soon because he has the sense of humor I like in people. As one who has visited many countries and lived mostly in Germany but also for few good years in UK and USA I can assure you that this movie could be done in any place on the Planet not only in America. I am 50 years old but I still don't understand why us, the Europeans, are so desperate to prove that Americans are the most stupid, ignorant people on Earth. I know many Europeans (with PhD!!!) who can't name the capitals of Romania or Bulgaria, the last two countries that joined the EU. I don't even dare to ask about the capital of Kazakhstan.

Answer 9

Unfortunately, the character(?) of Borat is the most unfunny thing I have seen since Ali G. Cohen is someone from a privileged background who ridicules people whom he considers to be below him. The sooner everyone wakes up the fact that this is a just a Jewish sicko hiding behind a facade of puerile nonsense then the better off we will all be. By the way, Kazakhstan is full of wonderful people who don't deserve to be humiliated by someone whose only aim is to make money out of someone else's discomfort or misfortune.

Answer 10

The character uses a debating technique called Socratic ignorance. i.e. Playing dumb to make your opponent make mistakes. Cambridge educated Baron-Cohen is using this technique against Americans at the moment. He has been using it in the UK for years.

I suspect Baron-Cohen and his team are dishonest when “informing” their victims how the film will be used and what are the purposes of the film. I also feel the Borat and to a lesser degree the Ali G character are a rebirth of the old school “black and white minstrel” bigotry we saw the back of years ago. Silly clothes, silly voice, odd habits….etc. However because we don’t have many Kazacks in the UK or the States it is ok.

It is a shame someone as wealthy and well educated as Cohen doesn’t to use his skills in a way more useful to society.

Answer 11

I think it does expose the not-so-sophisticated side of the US but at the same time making fun of Kazakhstan people.

Borat and Sacha Baren Cohens other alter ego "Ali G" have been shown in the UK for many years in his debut on the "11 o clock show" and "the Ali G show". His interviews have always been to expose the not so sophisticated side of people for the fun of the audience. He has viewed many top politicians and big stars.

He just makes me laugh, he is the most funniest comedian ever. I love his shows.